Li Xin nodded and began to speak, "Six months ago, a sudden upheaval occurred within the Yan Shu Sect."
"Oh? What upheaval?" Yu Daohen could sense that the reason for Zhang Xiaoqiang's drastic personality change was likely this incident.
"This is just a rumor from the martial world; I don't know if it's true," Li Xin said with some uncertainty.
Six months ago, a power struggle erupted within the Yan Shu Sect.
Most of the Yan Shu Sect's experts were recruited. Before, with a Black List expert like Tang Junsheng holding the fort, they dared not make any minor moves.
But with Tang Junsheng's death and no one having seen the true sect leader, everyone wanted to be the sect leader.
Among them, the three elders led half of the sect's elites in a coup.
However, this coup was quickly suppressed, and the leading elders and masterminds were beheaded and displayed.
Only Zhang Xiaoqiang, a newly appointed elder, remained untouched.
Although the Yan Shu Sect appeared to have not suffered too heavily in this battle, rumors from the martial world claimed the fight was incredibly bloody.
The Yan Shu Sect leader, who had never shown himself, won this victory by sacrificing more than half of the sect's elite disciples.
This coup severely weakened the Yan Shu Sect. About seventy percent of their elite disciples perished, and several powerful elders were also executed.
Although the Yan Shu Sect still appeared to be at the top tier of influential forces, it was in reality like a lone tree struggling against the wind.
Upon hearing this, Yu Daohen fell into thought. If Li Xin's account was true, then the Yan Shu Sect had likely fallen to the bottom of the top-tier forces, or even become a second-tier force.
The Yan Shu Sect already had a less-than-stellar reputation in the martial world. After this incident, other sects would surely attack them.
However, a starving camel is still larger than a horse. Before knowing if the rumors were true, no fool would rashly attack the fourth major sect that was once below the top three.
But Yu Daohen couldn't fathom what connection this upheaval had to Qiangzi.
Li Xin seemed to sense what Yu Daohen was thinking and said, "According to martial world rumors, before the upheaval in the Yan Shu Sect, Zhang Xiaoqiang went to see the corpse retriever Su Lai."
"Old Su?" Yu Daohen subconsciously repeated.
Li Xin nodded, "That's right, it's Su Buying, the one who has a good relationship with Master Yu."
Hearing this, Yu Daohen made up his mind to go to the Corpse Retrieving faction to ask Su Lai what had happened to make Zhang Xiaoqiang like this.
The snow fell heavier as the night deepened, and Yu Daohen and Li Xin talked until very late.
The next morning~
Disciples from the Shui Fuzi sect drove to the entrance of the Midnight Spirit Shop.
Seeing his disciples arrive, Li Xin cupped his hands and bid farewell to Yu Daohen.
Before leaving, Li Xin seemed to remember something and turned back to remind him, "Master Yu, people change. I've seen Zhang Xiaoqiang; his eyes have lost the concept of friendship. I hope you make plans to distance yourself from him."
Yu Daohen nodded, cupped his hands, and smiled, "Thank you, Brother Li, for the reminder."
"We'll meet again," Li Xin nodded, stepped out of the shop, and got into the car to leave.
Watching the car drive away, Yu Daohen reached out and caught the falling snowflakes. "It seems the only answer is to wait until I meet Su Lai."
After speaking, Yu Daohen turned to look at Yu Yijun, who was in front of the ice cream machine, with a speechless expression. "I told you not to eat ice cream in such cold weather. What if you catch a cold?"
Yu Yijun pouted, "Hmph, you won't let me go adventuring in the martial world, but you won't even let me eat ice cream?"
Yu Daohen sighed helplessly, "Alas, children grow up and don't listen to their parents."
Suddenly, Yu Daohen thought of something.
That's right, he could let this little girl go to school.
Yu Daohen turned and looked at Yu Yijun with a mischievous smile.
Yu Yijun saw her Daddy staring at her with a mischievous grin and said somewhat disdainfully, "Daddy, what's with that expression? Don't tell me you're planning to sell your precious daughter. We're not so poor that we can't make ends meet."
Yu Daohen chuckled and joked, "What are you saying? How could Daddy bear to sell you? If I were to sell you, it would be for a good price. But looking at you, I'd probably have to pay someone to take you."
"Ah... this..." Yu Yijun looked dumbfounded, unable to believe these words came from her Daddy.
Is there a father who talks about his daughter like this?
Besides, who wouldn't want her? Such a cute little padded jacket, who wouldn't like her?
Yu Yijun was rethinking whether she should take care of her Daddy in his old age and see him off.
Or perhaps sending him to a nursing home to dance square dances with the old ladies wouldn't be bad.
Seeing the little girl fall silent, Yu Daohen asked, "What are you thinking about, little girl?"
Yu Yijun said faintly, "I'm thinking if Daddy dies, whether I should buy him a coffin."
Yu Daohen thought to himself: *****.
As expected of his good daughter, she had already thought about where he would be buried.
Yu Daohen cleared his throat and got down to business. "Little girl, do you want to go to school?"
Yu Yijun's small face froze, and she asked with some confusion, "Why are you suddenly asking this, Daddy?"
Yu Daohen chuckled awkwardly, "Daddy just sees that you're bored staying alone in the shop, and going to school would allow you to interact with peers your age."